Made by Me File: Grainline Scout Tee. How I got from "There" to "Here."

Some of you had a "sneak peek" of my Fashion Challenge first entry yesterday if you are a regular reader of my Boden Weekly Review Roundups.  But since I know some of you are not, and come here for other reasons, I am making sure I do a proper "made by me" post for this creation of mine.

In the above photo you will see the printed sheet of the line drawing of the Grainline Scout Tee that my husband brought home with him (along with the pattern pieces, of course!).  I'll be honest here, when I saw the challenge come through in the email, a little part of me was like, "yikes, I don't know that I can think outside of the box enough."  Although I love prints and crazy colors, I am a very "clean lines" kind of person, and the Grainline Scout Tee, as is, seems to be a cute enough pattern.  So, because I am me, I started overthinking all of it.  I probably mulled over what I was going to do for four or so hours.  I went all over the internet looking at images of current clothing that could be made from a basic tee shape.  Eventually I settled on a favorite of mine, the tunic, for the silhouette, and for the details I again went with a favorite of mine, two fabrics melded together into one cohesive piece.  (Thanks to Boden for consistently doing this over the years--they definitely provided me with inspiration!)  To finish off the extra details, because let's be honest here...changing a tee to a tunic with two fabrics isn't enough "change," I added pockets ('cause yeah, pockets!), a working henley button placket at the back in the front fabric, and the neckline binding made from the back fabric.  Although all of these changes on paper seemed workable, I wasn't sure what the end product would look like, and at a few points in the construction, I was thinking I was foolhardy for taking this path.

So thank goodness at the end I was pleased with the results, since 50% of the time in the process (over four days total), I wasn't sure I would be.  :-)

Altered Pattern Pieces--Note square shoulder adjustment, 10 inches added in length, plus grading out from a size 4 at the bust to an 8 at the waist to a 14 at the hips. 

This is my muslin.  Note crazy fabric.  LOL.  Actually after cutting it and seeing that it looked okay on me, I realized that with some proper finishing, this would be a really cute pool coverup.  So there are plans to finish off the neckline, armholes, and hem.

The final product being cut.  PLEASE NOTE that there is a mistake on one of the pieces.  The front piece says to cut on fold at center BACK not center FRONT.  Really not a big deal, but for a beginner, a mistake could be made there.  Also note my "unsure" face.  The tunic fit, but I didn't care for the shape, completely.  Eventually I took in the sides a bit at the waist, which helped (read my thoughts below).

While it fit, I didn't love the fit in the final fabric.  In reality, I needed all the pieces to be on the garment for my vision to come true.  I do think this garment needs darts if you are not a straight-up and -down kind of lady.  I have curves (especially my lower half), and while shaping the waist in the process of the fitting (not on my original pattern pieces) helped, I know that if I make this again I will need to the diamond shaped darts on the back, and possibly french darts on the front.  But maybe not, since this is meant to be a "tee" derivative and not a fitted tunic.  Just thinking out loud here, lol. 

And the final product!  I was pleased, FINALLY.  I mean, it isn't a home run, but the shape works on my frame (for the most part), my square shoulder adjustment worked (though I did alter a tiny bit during the process), and the henley button placket worked and looks really cute on the back. 

BTW, I searched and searched for the best button placket tutorial on the web.  There were at least a few that did a great job, but my favorite was this one by Crafty Cupboard.  Being a visual learner, this one had the best photos and most photos so I could really see what I was doing and execute it well.  Having said that, this tutorial does not mention interfacing the fabric, and I knew the best placket would be one with a bit of body, so I interfaced my entire piece of fabric in a woven fusible interfacing before starting. 

Some of you asked where I got the fabrics.  Well all of them are from Fabric Mart!  I didn't intentionally do that, but since 80% of my fabrics come from them, no surprise, right?  The front fabric is a printed cotton lawn that was part of Julie's Picks a while back.  The back fabric is a stretchy cotton pinstripe (which looks like a solid light grey from far away) which I received in a bundle a LONG time ago.  The buttons were also part of a button bundle, and the color and size where exactly right for this project. 

Detail Shots for those of you who love seeing them.

I didn't mention this above, but I did make the tunic from lighter fabrics so I could be sure that I could wear the tunic as a "tee", too.  So while I changed the "tee" to a "tunic," I couldn't resist the styling possibilities of a tee in the end.  ;-) 

I wore the tunic/leggings/belt/loafers outfit yesterday to bowling.  It was comfortable, presentable, and not one person realized that I had made this myself.  Which I guess is success?  LOL. 

I look forward to wearing the tee/skirt/loafers outfit to church or subbing one day.

I also have plans to wear the tunic/leggings outfit in the winter, but layered with a long cardigan, scarf, and boots.

Okay, that's all for now.  The blog post by Fabric Mart with the place to vote is up and ready, so check it out if you feel so inclined.  :-) 

I LOVE what the other sewers came up with, btw.  I love how very different all of our looks are!!!  Great job, ladies!  It has been fun to virtually sew with all of you!

OOTD: Hotchpotch, Blakeley, and a Toggle Coat.

Happy Friday night, all!

I saw that today came and went and no Spring 2013 new arrivals at Boden, but I am sure that they will be coming soon.  The new arrivals always have been dropped on Fridays in the past, but this past year or so has been a bit different overall over in Boden-land, so I am not 100% surprised that the new arrivals didn't drop today.

Anyhow, I have been trying to find my way back to normal after a nice week and a half off of school runs and errands, etc.  It's been fine, but as you all have seen here on my blog over the past five months, the dinagideon household is in constant motion.  ;)

On New Year's Day we headed out to Bethesda as a family to grab some sushi and allow Mr. Dina to grab his comics from his favorite comic shop for 20% off (they have that sale twice a year--like all of us clothing aficionados, the comic aficionados have their "OMG, must buy all my comics TODAY" moments, too). 

I needed to be warm since it was definitely frigid that day, but because I was feeling a bit lazy, I also knew I wanted something easy to put on and something easy and comfortable to wear.  I also wanted to grab something old from my closet that I hadn't worn for a while, which seems contradictory for the start of a new year, but, eh, it's been so long since I wore this dress that it *felt* new.

Dress was last seen here (way way back when).  I definitely prefer this styling to my initial styling.  I think this dress is too short for me to wear with heels, but we all learn from our past, it's trying to remember it in the future that's hard.

The Blakeley Riding Boots are so great.  I am beyond thrilled that I decided to give these lighter colored boots a chance.  I am trying to wear them as much as possible before our warm spring comes, since that usually means I put away boots in off-season storage.

This stadium cloth toggle coat is from the winter of 2007.  I didn't buy it back when it was available, since I had a few extra pounds on me from Rex's pregnancy and birth, and then when I decided I needed a navy coat, it was all gone.  So I bought the double cloth Carlin coat in navy instead.  And then I got bored of that one (plus the collar wasn't working for me), so I sold it.  Last winter I needed no new coats (warm winter plus Angus pregnancy--no thank you to outerwear), so I didn't even bother looking for a replacement navy coat.

And then I saw it--the toggle coat in navy--and for a decent price.  I bit, and haven't looked back.  It is much better on my frame than the Carlin AND it is super warm.  This is a size 6, so true to size (just in case you want to find one for yourself).  It also came in yellow as you can see on the lovely Vanessa here in this shot from the Scotland catalog.

The only thing about these toggles is that they do all have to be done up or not done up at all.  If only one or two are buttoned, it looks silly (even if you can't really tell from the previous photo).

Anyhow, that's it for the night.  Really should hit the hay asap.

Tell me, though...what old item in your closet are you looking forward to wearing?  Is it truly old (sitting in your closet for way too long) or is it "new" old (old but new to you)?

Have a great evening, all!

A Tale of a Tunic, a Top, and a Swan Butt Skirt...

First thing...I FORGOT to add links to my last few posts, and I just feel terrible. Both of these lovely ladies have worn outfits or pieces that I had in the posts, and I really want you to go check them out. They looked amazing, of course. :)

Debye reviewed the Boden Knitted Dress and the Textured Cotton Shift here. Summerilla wore the Campo de Fiore sweaterdress here.

Second...I have a great Boden story to tell. I was shopping at Springfield Mall a week or so ago and I was picking up my statement necklace (Boden's from the winter roll-out that I blogged about here) from the repair shop (a minor repair, a connection was broken between two of the bits). We then head to Gymboree to buy CW some winter clothing, and in the midst of me trying to prevent her from shoplifting some tees (they are so sneaky at this age), I threw my bag and envelope (with the necklace in it) on the floor and ran out to grab her and the fifteen tees she five-finger discounted. In the process of all of this, my Campo bag was remembered but not the necklace I had come to the mall for in the first place. :P

The ladies at the store saw the envelope (after we were long gone), saw the Boden info, and called their customer service number, and reported to them that my necklace was at their store. I remembered about fifty minutes later that I had left the envelope in the store and grabbed it...obviously with a million thanks to them, and was on my merry way.

Well imagine my surprise when I get home and Mr. Dina says there was a message from Boden, calling to let us know that our necklace was at the Springfield Mall and that we should go and get it!!! This is AWESOME. I always love J. Crew's customer service, but this is the BEST example of customer service I have ever encountered. Amazing. (Now, if I could just get them to send me the boyfriend cardi I ordered in their sale over 21 days ago, I would be the happiest camper with Johnnie and co. Although knowing Boden, Johnnie himself will go to the FedEx depot here in Alexandria and chew them out for making me wait for my package.) :)

Third...today is a day of three reviews...two are Boden, and one is Urban Outfitters. (I know, Urban Outfitters...it is NOT a typo.) In fact the only thing in any of these photos that is J. Crew is the starfish printed cardigan in the last photo that I bought recently from Mint Condition.


Sizes:
Tunic: UK Size 10R, US Size 6R. I chose to go with a regular as opposed to a long because I don't want the empire seam to hit me at my waist. That would just ruin this tunic for me. I know this is S-H-O-R-T, but I am not planning on wearing this as a dress, this is either a cover-up for my bathing suit this summer or as a tunic this spring.

I think this was the VERY FIRST thing I fell in love with when I saw the Boden Spring Preview all the way back in October. I said it looked very Lilly Pulitzer then, and I stand by my estimation. What a gorgeous print. Does anyone else see the bird in the center of the tunic?

This is linen and prone to wrinkling, but on the plus side, this is a comfortable material that stretches with you and will never confine you. Just lovely for the warmer months of the year.

Printed Tunic available here. This print is currently on a huge backorder, but really, are any of you going to wear this in the next 5 weeks? Well, outside of Ema, who actually is wearing it for real right now. Lucky gal! ;)


Sizes:
Top: UK 12, US 8. I always buy these more fitted tops by Boden in a size UK 12 or US 8 because they are close-fitting, and this is coming from someone without much up top.

I love me some hotchpotch. This is the current variation on the "hotchpotch" theme. This will probably be the only one I buy. The others just aren't singing to me. I do envision this looking darling with sandals and a pair of denim bermuda shorts.

Hotchpotch Top is available here. You can probably wait for a sale. (But once on sale, buy quickly...the hotchpotch and fun skirts always sell first and fast on sale.)


Sizes:
Cardigan: Size Small. Bought for maybe $15. Love consignment shops. :)
Skirt: Size Medium. This skirt was much discussed at gigiofca's Gigi's Gone Shopping. Well, not the Urban Outfitters version, but the Target version. Gigiofca is the one (maybe?) who named it the swan butt skirt. Whatever.

I love this pic, I cropped it just so...wanted you to see just how darling the mini-tiers of fabric look.

But I know you all, and you will prefer a full-length version...so fine, here it is (I am to please):


Ta-Da!

Urban Outfitters Kimchi Blue Ruffle Tiered Skirt is available here. They have it styled to sit on the waist. Unh-uh, I am over 14 (contrary to how I feel on the inside), so I placed it on my high hip. It is a much more reasonable version of a mini at this length.

BTW, I am stuck on how I really want to style this skirt. I like it with the cardigan and sandals, and so does Mr. Dina and my dad, but what about you all? Any ideas? Any polyvore addicts feel like taking a go with it???

Hope this helped some of you. If I enabled you, I am truly sorry or truly happy, dependent on how you feel about me enabling you. ;)